Fuel tank cover not opening

joseb · Post by **joseb** » 15 Feb 2005, 10:47

I have a 2000 S80 2.9, I am experiencing an intermitent failure in my fuel tank cover. As you may know this is connected to the central locking system fo the car, well sometimes the fuel tank cover would not like to open even though I open all the locks either by using my control remote or the buttom at the door, neither options work.

As I say this is intermittent and I can get to the fuel cover system from inside the trunk and make it work, all I do is push back the little cylinder and it actuates, however I would prefered it to work properly.

Any sugestions and what could cause this?

ETHYL · Post by **ETHYL** » 05 Nov 2006, 09:51

I'M having the same problem with my 2002 S80 T6. Evry time I pull up to fill gas, I hope the fuel door unlocks. Also, how do you access the fuel door button thru the trunk? I pulled back the truck linr but can't get to anything.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 05 Nov 2006, 10:20

Use a flash light to see where the pull tab/handle is for the gas latch. Once you find it visually, getting to it by feel is easy.

I dont have an S80, but on my S70, spraying the wire hinges on the inside of the door portion seems to have done the trick. Mine was doing this all of the time until I did this and now it's been good for about a year.

Of course if there's no sound for the actuator motor back there when you push the button to open it, then it could be the little motor itself that has an intermittant short and needs to be looked at. Try to problem solve this to see if you're hearing anything or not.

ETHYL · Post by **ETHYL** » 05 Nov 2006, 12:21

MadeInJapan wrote:Use a flash light to see where the pull tab/handle is for the gas latch. Once you find it visually, getting to it by feel is easy.

I dont have an S80, but on my S70, spraying the wire hinges on the inside of the door portion seems to have done the trick. Mine was doing this all of the time until I did this and now it's been good for about a year.

Of course if there's no sound for the actuator motor back there when you push the button to open it, then it could be the little motor itself that has an intermittant short and needs to be looked at. Try to problem solve this to see if you're hearing anything or not.

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No pull tab/handle on the S80 at least on the 2002 model year. The fuel door does not appear to be stuck. When the fuel button is pressed, no sound is heard. When I left the gas station because I couldn't open the fuel door, I drove about a mile to a grocery store. In the parking lot I tried the fuel door again and nothing. I then drove home about another mile and tried it in my driveway and it worked. On the way to the gas station, I tried it again and it worked. It also worked at the gas station. This is about the 3rd time its happened in the last 6 months. I wish that a pull tab/cable was available from the trunk. I am curious how the originator of this problem found the "pin" to open the fuel door without tearing up the trunk lining. I will certainly try your recommendation. however, with no sound after fuel button is pressed leads me to believe it is a fuel button or solenoid problem.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 05 Nov 2006, 12:46

Yes, I agree it's probably an electrical issue. Since I don't own an S80, I can't just go out to the car and check for you. I'll try to do a bit of investigating and see what I find.

LaRy · Post by **LaRy** » 07 Nov 2006, 13:27

I had the same problem with my S80 from 2004, suddenly I could not open the fuel door. I had to break the locking pin from inside. Before that I had checked the power feeding to this small motor. It seems like it is getting a short 12 volt puls to be released. Then the polarity is probably changed and the motor gets a short 12 volt puls in order to make it lock.
In my case i got a new motor on warranty.

CONNORJ1 · Post by **CONNORJ1** » 17 Jan 2007, 16:35

I have a 2000 S80 T6 with the same problem. I did however find that when I unlock using my remote while pressing in on the fuel cover, it will unlock correctly! Beats having to go through the trunk for the time being, and I can't lock my keys in the car if they are on me!!